Democrats accept resignation of Martinez as county chair

Ventura County Democrats officially accepted the resignation of their chairwoman Tuesday night and decided to hold a vote to replace her at next month's Democratic Central Committee meeting, the group's acting chairman said.

Jill Martinez announced her resignation last week, after leading the Central Committee for the past five months. She remains a member of the committee, but not its executive board.

Brian Leshon, the committee's first vice chairman, led Tuesday's meeting and will serve as acting chairman until Martinez's permanent replacement is chosen.

Leshon said he plans to run for the chairman's post when the position goes up for a vote next month. "I do expect a challenge," though no one else has declared an intention to run yet, he said.

Only the 24 people who have been elected by county Democrats to serve on the committee may run. The committee also has 20 unelected members, who either have won Democratic nominations for office or are presidents of local Democratic clubs. All committee members can vote for the next chairperson, Leshon said.

On Tuesday, the Democratic Central Committee also approved a resolution opposing any development at Ormond Beach and a resolution supporting a ballot measure that would establish public financing for the California secretary of state's race in 2014.

"We're going to be looking to do a lot more resolutions like that," Leshon said. "It really helps to engage the community."